Kenya's National Land Policy (Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2009)
Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Kenya's National Land Policy is Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2009 from the Ministry of Lands. It aims at efficient, sustainable and fair use of land, sorts all land into public, community or private, and backs quick, affordable ways to settle land disputes, including mediation. The 2010 Constitution now sets the core land principles in Article 60.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Ministry of Lands for the policy; mediation, elders or the Environment and Land Court for disputes
Steps
- Read the policy itself. It is still one of the documents the State Department for Lands names as the basis of its work, alongside the Constitution and the 2017 National Land Use Policy.
- For today's binding rules, start with Article 60 of the Constitution: equitable access, secure rights, sustainable use, transparent administration and no gender discrimination in land.
- In a land dispute, try negotiation, mediation or arbitration first. The policy backs these, and the Constitution encourages communities to settle land disputes locally.
- If that fails, disputes over the use, occupation of and title to land go to the Environment and Land Court.
Watch out
- The paper says it should be reviewed every ten years, and it was written before the 2010 Constitution. Where it differs from the Constitution or later land laws, those laws apply.
- Under the Constitution, the National Land Commission recommends national land policy to the government.
Who can apply
- All Kenyans: one aim of the policy is to give every citizen the chance to access and use land.
Official sources (3)
- Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2009 on National Land Policy libraryir.parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (Abridged version) lands.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 4 Oct 2026